Practices will only be reimbursed for PPE recommended by Public Health England

By Emma Bower on the
11 May 2020

GP practices who have paid for PPE out of their own funds will only be reimbursed for any kit that is recommended for use by Public Health England.

(Photo: Sebastian Condrea/Getty Images)

Final details of the funding that practices will receive for additional costs they have incurred during the pandemic is currently waiting for approval from the Treasury.

During a webinar last Thursday (7 May), NHS England director of primary care contracts Ed Waller said that he expected that practices would ‘be reimbursed for additional consumables or business expenses, 'for example around PPE, or changing business models to do home visits'.

However he said that NHS England would not reimburse practices for 'non-regulation PPE'. He said the whole funding scheme would be set up 'on the basis of the guidance that's been given to the system'.

'So in the case of PPE, the expectation is that we reimburse PPE expenses in line with what PHE is recommended,' he explained.

Around one in six GPs (16%) said that they 'rarely' or 'never' had sufficient PPE for safe contact with patients - and only 31% said that they always had the right equipment available.

PHE currently recommends the use of gloves, fluid-repellant face masks, aprons and eye protection for staff working in primary care.

However many practices have provided staff with additional equipment such as face shields and scrubs, particularly for those working in so-called 'hot sites'.

Some practices are also looking to install screens at reception desks as more patients start returning to surgeries as a way of providing additional protection for staff. It is unclear if NHS England would fund such modifications.

Practice reimbursement

During Thursday’s webinar Mr Waller stressed the final details of reimbursement for practices had yet to be approved by the government. However he set out the principles of the planned scheme to provide additional funding for practices.